Research, research, research. Talk to locals when moving to a new area. Never rent a place without a detailed walk through first. Read the lease carefully and have adjustments made to it where necessary. Video or take pictures of any problem areas in the apt. Take pictures when you move in and when you move out. You can look up renters rights for your area on the internet. Stand your ground with your landlord. There are laws that they have to abide by. Landlords are required to keep their property to a liveable standard and in good condition. Make sure your lease list what the apt/home will be supplied with, stove, refridgerater, garbage disposal, ect... if you rent it with these things at the time of lease and it is stated in the lease, your landlord is required to keep it that way and to repair within a timely fashion. If they do not do this, you can take legal action. Again research. Word of mouth has found me some of my best rentals. It took a while and I too have had to learn the hard way, but I am getting better at it. Its practically like a job trying to find the right place. But keep your chin up and do your homework and you will find it. When not getting anywhere through word of mouth I search rentlessly on my computer. Hotpads.com, Apartmentguide.com ect... And I read the reviews that people have written about the complexes I have been looking at. I live in Florida and am hunting now myself. I will be flushing toilets, turning faucets off and on, checking the thermistat and taking pictures. Here is some information about Va renters rights. ( If the landlord does not stick to the terms of the rental agreement or meet the requirements of the VRLTA that affect your health or safety, you may serve a written notice on the landlord. The written notice must specify the problem and say that the lease will end 30 days after the landlord receives this letter if the problem is not dealt with in 21 days.


This section of the VRLTA also tells you what you can do if the landlord breaks the lease agreement more than once. It tells you what to do if the landlord cannot fix the problem that his violation of the agreement caused.Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs
Answer general questions concerning the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act.

Outside Richmond: (800) 552-9963
In Richmond: (804) 786-2042
Website: www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/faqs.shtml
Housing Opportunities Made Equal
Provides tenant counseling, discrimination testing, down payment assistance and other services.

700 East Franklin, Suite 3A
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 354-0641
TTY: (804) 354-0680
Fax: (804) 354-0690
Website: www.phonehome.org

Tips for Tenants:
Website: www.phonehome.org/pdf/tipsfortenants.pdf
Landlord Obligations
Inspection of premises
Within 5 days of occupancy the landlord must give a written report itemizing the existing damages to the dwelling. If you disagree with the report you must do so in writing within five days of receiving it or the landlord s report will be deemed as correct.

Some landlords allow you to submit a written copy of damages first and they have a right to correct it. The same five-day periods apply in either case. The landlord can also require a joint written report to be done with each of you signing the report. Be sure to ask how the report is to be done.

See VRLTA Section 55.248.10:1
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/354/354-066/354-066.html
I hope you find this infrmation helpful. Do yourself a favor and look up the websites where I obtained some of this information.) (Virginia cooperative Extension) Good luck to you and your family! P.S. Ever tryed goverment help for buying your own home for you and your family? You might be suprised what you qualify for! Again, good luck Yutema to you and your children.

I advise moving from Norfolk. Lots of more affordable areas in the USA with great homes for 950 month. Try Texas.

Hi Yutema,
If you a single mom, you might be qualify for a MPDU housing. Google MPDU house.

I HAVE BAD CREDIT AND I NEED A HOUSE BAD DO ANY ONE NO ANY PRIVATE OWNERS THAT CAN HELP ANY WHERE IN THE SEVEN CITES